Merchandise dispensing device



Dec. 27, 1949 H. n.1. SMITH 2,492,198

MERCHANDISE DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 v 4 sheets-sheet 1 6 F-/gl. G56" z 556" f 4 j@ 55 J lll Dec. 27, 1949 H, sMlTH 2,492,198

'ww xx A I k i ,E gpm iw Dec. 27, 1949 Filed Aug. 22, 1945 l] 2 -IZ 4 H. J. SMITH MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE HeTm/cbn J.' Smh Dec. 27, 1949 H. ,1. SMITH n 2,492,198

MERCHANDISE DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Herman J smak,

Patented Dec. 27,- 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE Herman J. smith, United states Army (Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 612,118

3 claims. (o1. 20 1.6)

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883,.; as amended April 30,v 1928;3701'0 G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon. v

This invention relates to a portable store or merchandising dispensing unit and the primary object thereof isto provide a knock-down portable structure adapted to be disassembled, crated and aerially transported to a newly occupied or advanced area and there reassembled to provide a temporary post-exchange service adapted to be used'in connection with troop operations or newly activated fields and other points where a postexchange service is needed beforea permanent structure has been erected for this purpose. Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down temporary exchange service structure composed of a floor with individual units fastened together in adjoining relation around the edges of the floor and comprising rear shelving units, side shelving units, counter units includingl a cash drawer unit and a gate carrying unit Vand means mounted on certain of said units for supporting a tent, the units being interchangeable except for the tent supporting units and gate carrying unit, whereby the units of the temporary exchange service may be readily assembled by anyone without practically any experience for displaying merchandise to be sold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down temporary exchange service including interchangeable units, which are simple in construction, ecient and durable in use, easily assembled and disassembled, economically manufactured and transported.

With the above and other objects and advantages in View, the invention consists of certain features of construction and operation of parts which will hereinafter be described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the improved knock-down temporary exchange service having the units thereof assembled in adjoining relation, with the flap of the tent being held in a raised position to provide a canopy in front of the structure;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the flap of the tent being lowered and locked in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the temporary exchange service structure with the tent therefor being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Referring more specically to the drawings, ,the

improved knockdown temporary exchange service, when assembled, comprises a plurality of units detachably fastened togetherin adjoining rela? tion around theredges of a sectional slatted flool I having a, greater length than width, said units 1ncluding rear shelving units, side shelving units and front counterunits indicated generally byY A, B and C, respectively. The rear shelving unitsV A are constructed of side panels 2 and 2', top and 2O bottom lpanels 3 and ,3' respectively and back being at one of each of the ends, of the slatted Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing 55 panels 4, with shelves v5 whichmay be adjustably mountedA Ain spaced relation between thek side panels 2 and 2. The side shelving units B are..

formed into pairs rcnaf, and b, b', one pair of each oor I andconstructed of side panels 6 and 6", top and bottom panels 1 and 1', respectively, and rear'panels, with shelves 9 which may be adjustably mounted in spaced relation between the side panels 6 and 6?. The side shelving units B are greater in width than the rear shelving units A but are of the same height, with the top panels 1 thereof being flushwith the top panels 3 of the rear shelving units. The rear shelving units A include end units I0 and .intermediate units II, with-the side-panels 2 and 2' of the end units I0 abutting against the shelves 9 of the units a and b of the side shelvingunits B and with the back panels 4 of therear end units IU flush with outer side panels 6 of the side shelving units a and b. By constructing the top panels 3 of the rear shelving'` units A flush with the top panels I of the side panel units B, a flat top shelf for displaying additional merchandise is provided on the exchange structure. Y

The counter units C are shorter in height than the rear and side shelving units A and B and inmiddle cash drawer vjunit I3. The end units I2Y and I2 'and the intermediate units I4 of the counter Yunits'C are each'formed of knock-down panels includingside panels I5 and I5', top and.

bottom panels I6 and I6' respectively, front panels I7 and shelves I8, with the side panel I5 of the end shelving counter unit I2' abutting against the inner portions of the side shelving unit b. The end shelving unit |2 of the counter units C has an entrance gate mounted thereon which is indicated generally by D. Thefentrance. gate D consists of a vertically extending gate panel 49 connected by hinges to the outer edge of the front panel Il of the end shelving counter unit I2 and a longitudinally extending 4vtop flap gate panel 2| connected at one end byliinges 22 to'the outer edge of the top panel I6, ofthe Aenvzlcounter unit I2 whereby the top gate panel 2| may be swung upwardly and the verticalpanel I9 swung 1 outwardly. The free ends of 'the gate panels I 9 and 2| are adapted to abut against the innerportions of the side shelving unit 41,.

The rear and side shelving units A and'B Vare each detachably fastened together -in adjoining relation by means of bolts 23 and wing nuts 24, with thebolts 123 tted'into holes `-formed in the side panelsvof the respective units, "andthe end units I0 of thevrear shelving units A aredetac'hably connected to the units'aand b'ofthe side shelving units B lby Imeans of "strap irons 25 mounted on the rear shelving units A.

A tent supportingknock-down vframe is mounted on .thetopo the rear and sideshelvingunits A and B and counter unit-`C,which frame'comprises a rectangular shaped frame portion indicated generally by E andfcomposed olf `longitudinally extending side members -or pieces 27, transversely yextending cross Yend members or pieces 28 and ra transversely lextending middle cross member `or rpiece 219. This -rectangular shaped frame portion E is removably mounted on a plurality of postsior uprights including'pairs of short posts 30 and 53|. VOne pairl 3l! Yof the short posts is removably :mounted on ithe Aunits a and a' of the side shelvingunits `B and another pair 3.I of rthe short 'posts is removably mounted on the sidershelving` units b fand-'b' of the shelving units B. .A rear-'short middle post 32 is mounted on a: middle rearshelving unit Il and a middle front post 133-ismounted lon the middle metal cashfdrawercounterunit-I3. The front middle post 33v is longer than Athe -rear middlepost 32 and extends up tothe sameheight as the .rear middlepost. vTwo .middle posts or uprights 34 are vremovably mounted on the :side shelving units B, one :of Seach rof the posts 34 being positioned -between one :of 'each Vof Ythe pairs of short posts 33 and 3| 4.at the middle thereof. The middle. posts 34 :are greater in height than the pairs ofshort posts 30/and 3| and are provided forsupportng;a.fmiddle longitudinally extending ridge :memben'orbeam 35 in ahigher plane than the framefportionE. Both ends of the posts or uprights are :provided with lower and upper pins 36 'and 36' respectively, with the pins 36 lon thelower ends of theposts being adapted to fl-t into fholes in plates :31.

mounted on the top panel -3fof Ythe rear central shelving unit II and on the .toppanels 'i :of vthe side shelving units B. The pin 36'on Ithe lower end of the middle counterrfrontpost 33 isthrea'ded for engaging ina threadedaperture 38.pro vided in a plate 38 .mountedonftheupper panel I6 of the metal cash drawercounter unit I3, as

34 and the short posts 3c and 3| respectively. The ends of the middle cross piece 29 are also provided with outwardly extending apertured metal tongues 40, with the pins 36 on the upper ends of the rear and :front middle posts 32 and 33 extending up through the apertures in the metal tonguesl). One endfof each 'of the cross end pieces 28 is provided'with an apertured metal tongue 42 whereby one end of the cross end pieces 28 may be removably mounted on the pins 36 on the upper ends of the pairs of short posts 30 and 3| and the other ends or the cross end vpieces .28 are suitably attached to the middle :ridge supporting posts 34.

A tent @I3 made of any suitable material such as canvas including a free front ap portion 44 =is adapted to t over the entire temporary exchange structure as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the 'ilap portion '44 'removably fastened to certain of'the units by any suitable means such as by the padlocks 46 engaging staples 4l mounted on the units whereby the tent maybe held in place on the structure. Uponremovingithe padlocks lili from the staples -4ll the flapportion 4l 4 of the tent may be raised and suitably'supported by poles 49 and ropes 5B connected'to stakes5| drivenin the ground to provide a canopy infront of the temporary exchange structure as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. Upon removing cthe ridge member 35 from-the pins 36on theupp'er ends of the `middle posts 34,'the'side,cross end and middle pieces 27, 23 and 29 yfrom'the pins 36 on the upper ends of the remaining posts, and nally the upright posts from the'uriits and by unscrewing the nuts 2t from the bolts 23,v

the units may be disassembled.

After the various elements of the temporary exchange structure have been disassembled, the metal cash drawer unit I3; the toppanels, bottom panels, shelves, gate and flap gate of the counter units; tent poles, stakes and. all hardware, tent .and the sectional slatted floor kmay be separately crated \for transport byair or in any other manner if desired. The unitsmay be provided with removable front panels (not shown) for transporting the 'merchandise without removing it from the units if desired.

It will thus .be seen that there has -herein been provided a novel :and ecient form of a tem` porary exchange-structure which islwell-adapted for the purpose intended. Even though there has herein been shown and described certain features of .construction and operation of :.parts, it is nevertheless to :be 'understood that various changes may be made therein, if the changes do not depart from the spirit-'orscope'ozthe claims.

Having thus describedmy finvention, what :I claim as new and wish to secure byliettersflatent is:

1. A portable :building structure comprising front, rear and end walls formediof .detachable interconnected Vbox-like units arranged l:side by side and provided with shelves whichare acces sible from the interior or -the structure, the'ront wall of said=structure beingof less 'height .than

the rear and side walls and the top of said frontI wall being adapted to serve as a service counter, uprights connected-to the structure atthe outer corners of the rear andvside walls,a central upright attached to the top-ofsaid side lwalls,fand a cross member connected to said centralupright and detachably connected to said uprights r1o cated at the `corners of said side walls, a ridge ..75 member detachablyconnected to the upper eig-- tremity of the central uprights, and a canvas cover supported by said ridge member.

2. A portable building structure comprising front, rear, and end Walls arranged in rectangular formation about a centrally located slatted iioor, said Walls being formed of detachably interconnected box-like units arranged side by side and provided with shelves which are accessible from the interior of the structure, the front wall of the structure being of less height than the rear and side walls, and the top of said front Wall being adapted to serve as a counter, corner uprights connected to the structure at the outer corners of the rear and side Walls, end cross piece assemblies mounted on the end Walls, each of which assemblies comprises a central upright mounted on the top of an end wall and a horizontal cross member connected to the corner uprights and to the central upright, a ridge member detachably connected to the central upright at each end of the structure and a flexible cover supported by said central ridge member to form a tent covering.

3. A portable buildingr structure comprising front, rear, and end walls arranged in rectangular formation about a centrally located slatted floor, said Walls being formed of detachably interconnected box-like units arranged side by side and provided with shelves which are accessible from the interior of the structure, the front Wall o of the structure being of less height than the rear and side Walls, and the top of said front wall being adapted to serve as a counter, corner uprights detachably connected to the structure at the outer corners of the rear and side Walls, end assemblies mounted on the end walls, each of which assemblies comprises a central upright mounted on the top of an end Wall and a horizontal cross member connected to the corner uprights, and to the central upright, a ridge member detachably connected to the central upright at each end of the structure, additional uprights connected to the central portion of the rear and front Walls and longitudinal frame members extending from between the said additional uprights parallel to the upper surfaces of the rear and front Walls forming a rectangular frame with the horizontal cross members at each end of the structure, a canvas covering supported by the ridge member and projecting in front of the counter, poles for supporting the canvas cover, and tie cords for holding the canvas cover in extended position.

HERMAN J. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 77,684 Gelfand Feb. 12, 1929 302,844 Hoiman July 29, 1884 351,354 Bangs Oct. 26, 1886 589,971 Kephart Sept. 14, 1897 720,344 Hagedorn Feb. 10, 1903 303,184 Minchin Oct. 31, 1905 837,802 Dalton Dec. 4, 1906 971,613 Hollister Oct. 4, 1910 1,261,652 Thorn Apr. 2, 1918 1,521,521 Flagg Dec. 30, 1924 1,544,949 Smiley July 7, 1925 2,141,468 Hamaker Dec. 27, 1938 2,277,020 Lynn Mar. 17, 1942 2,405,416 Foulkes Aug. 6, 1946 

